Marina nearly stumbled from the impact. Her face twisted in anger. “Isla! Are you seriously making a scene over a stupid old trophy? It’s not like it even belongs to you! You’re just an actress! If I take Mr. Vale’s things, what does it have to do with you? Grab it from her!”
“You dare!” I shot back and raised my hand high.
Her face immediately went pale, and she shrank back and threw her arms over her head. “Ah!”
“Isla!”
Suddenly, my wrist was seized in a firm grip.
I turned around, only to see Dominic looming over me, his expression filled with disapproval. With a sharp flick of his arm, he shoved me back against the wardrobe.
“Mr. Vale!” Marina cried, running straight into his arms, her shoulders trembling just enough to look pitiful.
He pulled her tighter against him and scolded me. “Isla, it’s just a trophy. Why go this far?”
I stared up at him, stunned. “Dominic, what did you just say?”
Only then did his eyes drop, finally noticing what I was clutching.
It was my mother’s last honor. Her last gift to me.
Even in the days when we couldn’t afford food, when I pawned every piece of jewelry I owned, I never once thought of selling it.